The Home of the Creative Mind

Welcome to PooBahSpiel, the online voice and home of the creative mind of Mark Monlux, Illustrator Extraordinaire. Prepare yourself for an endless regaling of art directly from the hand of this stellar artist. And brace yourself against his mighty wind of pontification. Updates are kinda weekly and show daily sketches, current projects, and other really nifty stuff.

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Comic Critic Reviews Mrs. Miniver


This movie has stuck with me over the years. I still remember how much I cried during this WWII tear-jerker when, as a kid, I saw it on television. ‘Though I’d seen other WWII films with piles of he-man action and bravery, this was the very first one that showed the British “Home Front.” And while it was very saccharin, I didn’t hold that against the viewing experience. Maybe I was just more open-minded as a kid, but I still see Mrs. Miniver that way and love it to death every time I see it. That is why I’m hanging all cinema logic: it’s a ten in my book. And let me add that Mrs. Miniver won seven, count them, seven Oscars. Mine were not the only heartstrings touched.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Return of Stickman #1207


I don't eat frozen dinners, but my wife often takes them to work for lunch. Like so many of her colleagues, she fears any change on the packaging as it usually means a change for the worse on the contents.

Monday, September 13, 2010

The Comic Critic Reviews Tron



Late in 1982, I transitioned from being a teenager who had just entered college to a twenty-year-old young adult. That can be an awkward age for anybody. Watching Tron is a strong reminder to me of what that time was like. Like me, it still reeked of the ‘70s, with its bell-bottoms, long hair, and multiple Disney movies starring Jeff Bridges. I tried all sorts of things to be cool. Some of them worked, but most of them crashed and burned and can only be looked back on as the hilarious idiocy of youth. Now I find Tron both painful and wonderful to watch, just like reading my old journals. Oh, I was such a geek.

Speaking of being a geek, here is a video I made this morning.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

My Sketchbook from Bumbershoot 2010

As promised, here are the sketches that I drew during Bumbershoot. I draw whatever the music inspires in me. I was lucky enough to get some of the band members to sign them after.

Aterciopelados


The Budos Band



Fences


Justin Townes Earle


The Moondoggies


Plants and Animals


Ra Ra Riot


The Raveonettes


Surfer Blood


The Thermals


Visqueen